{Reading The Book of James~ Week 11}

Be Doers of the Word: Look Intently At The Law of Liberty

James is writing to the Jewish Christians scattered among the nations. Ok, do not stop reading  the book of James because you do not think this is written to you the Gentile! Paul teaches in Romans 2: 25-29 that a Jew is one whose heart has been circumcised by the Spirit of God. He is a Jew who is one inwardly not one outwardly. Spiritually speaking all believers have been grafted into the nation of Israel. Romans 11:17-23. So this book is written for all Christians at all times!

James’s message is to show us what the gospel of Jesus Christ should look like as it is lived out in our everyday lives. There are a few things about the gospel that I believe will be helpful to keep in mind as we walk it out.

1. The gospel does not show favoritism
2. The gospel  tells the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth
3. The gospel is not manipulative, it is straight forward and bold

Let’s look at this book and see how we are to walk out our Christian life according to the gospel.

Receive the word implanted

Man cannot blame God for any of his evil actions. James teaches that  we are tempted and carried away by our own lusts. God cannot be tempted by evil and he Himself does not tempt anyone. Do not be deceived, everything good and perfect comes from God. There is no variation or shifting shadow. Everything and every situation in our lives are always moving always changing. But not God! He is always good and never changes! He is constant in His being. He is our constant. We can always count on Him!

In His goodness and in the exercise of His will we were brought forth, regenerated, saved through the word of Truth, the gospel. Paul teaches in Philippians 1:6, “That He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The same truth that saved us brought us forth, is also the same truth that sanctifies us. God is doing a good work in us. Remember all that He does is good and for our good. We are to receive the word of truth, the good word of God that is implanted in us with joy. When we are reading or studying the word of God our attitude should be one of listening with humility. James says to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Whatever God’s word instructs us to do or teaches us about the character of God we are to receive it. The word that is implanted in us saves our souls.

Why do we so often complain and murmur against something that is doing a good work in us?

Prove Yourself Doers of the Word:faith without works is dead

There is more to just hearing the word of God. We are instructed to be doers of the word. Walk it out in its various instructions.  What good is it if I sit and read or study  the word get up and go about my business and never think about or put into practice what God’s word instructs? God says in James 1:26 that man’s religion is worthless. But the man who looks intently at the perfect Law, the Law of liberty, and abides by it will be blessed in what he does.

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? Faith that has no works is dead. Man is justified by works and not by faith alone. Works do not save us. James is not contradicting what Paul has already taught in other books of the Bible. Paul teaches that we are saved y faith alone. James is teaching is that True God-given faith is not alone. It comes with good works for us to do. Works that were prepared from before the foundation of the world for us to walk in. {Ephesians 2:10}

Fulfill the royal Law

When we live out the true gospel we are fulfilling the Royal Law. What is the Royal law you may be asking? Jesus quotes the law in Matthew 22:37, ” Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” James quotes the second part of this commandment in chapter 2 verse 9 calling it the Royal commandment.

I believe we can sum up the book of James with the Royal law. If we are loving God with all of  our hearts, our souls, and our minds then we will walk out the gospel truth by loving our neighbor as ourselves. You and I know very well that we do not live this out perfectly. I do not always love God with all my heart, my soul, and my mind, therefore I am not loving my neighbor as myself. Believer, do not lose heart! God has given us the Holy Spirit of promise that guides, teaches and trains us. He has given us His written word to teach, encourage and train us.

The book of James is filled with reminders of how we are to love others and therefore showing our love for God. Believers do not fight against the word of God but receive it, walk it out as we wait for the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be a light in a dark dark place.

This message from James  is so timely. It is so vitally important for the believer to be in the word of God renewing their minds and learning what the will of God is. That is what we are doing here at Conforming To The Truth. We are reading through 17 New Testament books. We are entering our twelfth week of reading and would love for you to join in with us. I always say it is never too late to start reading Truth. June 27th  we will begin  reading the book of  1 Peter. Click on the image below to get all of the details! I am ready to send you the reading plan and add you to our Facebook group:) I also have a free Bible Study in the book of Titus. Click on the image below and it will take you to all of the details!

  

{Reading The Book of Titus~Week 9}

The Church is Entrusted with the Truth of the Gospel: The church is Called to Holy Living

God called Paul as an apostle, He sent him as a messenger of Jesus Christ and entrusted him with that gospel. The word “entrusted” sticks out to me in this first chapter. I remember in 2 Timothy that Paul told Timothy to entrust the gospel to faithful men.

“The things which you heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

In this letter to Titus, I believe Paul to be doing the same thing. He has left Titus on the Isle of Crete and entrusted him to set in order what remained or correct the wrong doctrine and practices of the churches. According to chapter 1:10-13 Paul already knew about these men who needed to be corrected and he describes them as:

{Reading the Book of 2 Timothy}

Guarding The Treasure: The Good News of Salvation

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:14

The days of Paul’s ministry are coming to an end. He finds himself in a cold cell {4:13} in chains {2:9}with no hope of deliverance {4:6}. According to 2 Timothy 1:15 all who were in Asia turned away from Paul except Onesiphorus who refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chains.

Paul is penning the last letter he will be guided to write. He addresses it to Timothy his true child in the faith. He encourages Timothy but at the same time urges him to stand firm in the faith, and to join him in suffering for the gospel. He exhorts him not to be ashamed of the gospel  nor to be ashamed of him because he is in chains.  I can hear him speaking to Timothy as a father or mother speaks to his or her own child as he says these words,  “Timothy I am in prison but the gospel of Jesus Christ is not imprisoned it is not chained. I am enduring all things for the sake of the elect, those chosen by God before the foundation of the world so that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy, the gospel must be preached for the sake of the elect. Do not be timid, kindle afresh the spiritual gift that has been given to you and go forth with the true gospel of Jesus Christ.”

{Reading the Book of 1 Thessalonians~Week 5}

Message of encouragement: Knowing and Expressing our Faith

As I have read and re-read this book over the last several days I cannot help but think about the faith, the love, and the steadfastness of hope the Thessalonica church understood and expressed.  This church was conceived under much tribulation and that tribulation continued after its conception. I think we forget, we do not think about,  or do not grasp the fact that from the beginning of the church’s existence  it has been under attack. News Flash, persecution, and suffering will never cease for the church. This is not our home. We are aliens and strangers in this place.  Our call is to live victorious through Christ and call sinners to repentance amidst the hostility and persecution of the world. But as we can see through the words of this book we have a living hope and a gospel that comes with power!

{Reading the Book of Ephesians~Week 2}

Put on your armor because the church is under attack!

Paul went to Ephesus on his third missionary journey. He spent three years in this city preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. God was performing extraordinary miracles  through the hands of Paul. Many believed and were confessing and disclosing their ungodly practices, witchcraft being  one we learn about in Acts 19:17-20. We see in this same passage that many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. The word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.